Scout group celebrates 90th birthday (From Harrow Times)

1st Hatch End Scout Group celebrates 90th birthday

10:30am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News By Katie Dolamore

One of Harrow’s oldest scout groups will be marking its 90th anniversary this month, with a host of exciting events.

1st Hatch End Scout Group has invited old scouts from as far afield as New Zealand to join them for a celebratory reunion weekend from Friday, October 19, until Sunday, October 21.

All the scouts will gather for a campfire at Halls Farm, Hatch End, on the Friday evening.

Saturday’s celebrations will include an open afternoon at the Scout Headquarters, and an elm tree planting in the Broadway.

The scouts will also unveil memorials to previous Group Scout Leaders Gordon Scarlet, who sadly passed away last year, and Les Eckwitch, who helped to rebuild the Scout Headquarters after a fire burnt it down in 1964.

Former cub scout Paul Linden, executive chef of Pinner based caterers Food For Thought, will cater a gala dinner on the Saturday evening.

The weekend will conclude with a Scouts’ Own, a traditional scouting service involving singing and speeches, held at St Anselm’s Church on the Sunday afternoon.

The final celebration will take place on Friday, November 30, with an edition of BBC Radio 4’s programme, Any Questions? co-hosted by Pinner Parish Church.

Group Scout Leader David Poole, who first joined 1st Hatch End at the age of eight, said: “This has been a special year for London, with the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, and we look forward to celebrating this big anniversary as well.”

He added that he was “very proud” to be involved with one of the districts oldest scout groups.

Any members or ex-members who would like to attend the group’s festivities can find more details, and an application form, at www.1sthatchend.org.uk